New study suggests pairing vegetables with toppings appeals to children

A new study shows that children who pair vegetables with more satisfying toppings are more likely to end up liking them in the future.

According to Reuters, a new study suggests that when parents pair Brussels sprouts, broccoli or other unfavorable greens to young children with cheese sauce, cream cheese or peanut butter, they will eventually be able to eat the nutrient in the future without the extra treat.

The >study, which was published in the Journal of the Academy of Nutrition and Dietetics, also suggests that this is caused because of associative conditioning.

This strategy involves pairing something somebody enjoys with something new or something they don’t care for. This idea could be extremely helpful to people – including those anti-veggie adults who are looking for a healthier diet.

“This has the potential to change the eating habits of children, including eating more vegetables, and this in turn will affect childhood obesity,” Elizabeth Capaldi-Phillips, a psychologist at Arizona State University and the lead author of the study, said.

If this study is true, it could potentially help the number of overweight children who are currently struggling with premature obesity.